Weighing the options: Towards improving secondary prevention of eating disorders among children and youth within British Columbia

Recent analyses of eating disorder services within BC reveal significant gaps in service delivery for the province’s child and youth population. There is an identified need for additional secondary prevention services for children and youth exhibiting early signs of disordered eating. Improving the quality, and building the capacity, of secondary prevention services within BC is a key priority, especially given the importance of early intervention in maximizing health outcomes among these patients. This paper consists of a review of the literature surrounding best practices for both screening and early intervention of eating disorders, as well as an exploration of how this issue has been tackled internationally. Both the literature review and environmental scan are used to inform a series of recommendations for the improvement of secondary prevention eating disorder services within BC. Major challenges and limitations associated with the available research and the application of recommendations are also discussed.